Summer is here, but we have plenty of reasons for you to stay indoors! Don’t miss the award-winning film ‘The Bothersome Man’ which currently runs at London’s ICA. Those interested in architecture should head to Edinburgh, whereas contemporary art enthusiasts should visit The National Portrait Gallery’s BP Portrait Award exhibition which features a work of young artist Ingolv Helland.

The official Grieg year continues with several concerts this month. And for those looking for some entertainment on their journey to work or college, download Marion Raven’s debut album ‘Set Me Free’ to your mp3 player or buy Helene Uri’s latest novel ‘Honey Tongues’.

Finally, scroll down and check out our newsletter competition where you and a friend can win a weekend trip to Oslo. Good luck!

Hailed as a cross between David Lynch and Jacques Tati, Norwegian film 'The Bothersome Man' returns to the capital after making it into the London Film Festival last year. The film, described as 'wonderfully surreal viewing', runs at the ICA. The film, directed by Jens Lien, describes a world not unlike our own. A sarcastic and tinted view of affluent lives in the Nordic countries.. [+] Read more

A new star is about to take flight. Like the pitch-black bird with which she shares a name, Norwegian singer Marion Raven has already been hard at work conquering the world. Following her recent UK tour with US rocker Meat Loaf, Raven is now releasing her debut album 'Set Me Free'. All the songs were written or co-written by Raven and feature her on both guitar and piano. [+] Read more

A team of professional actors take Ibsen's gripping 19th century classic portrait of love, betrayal and hypocrisy to Battersea in a production and all designed, stage-managed and crewed by St Mary's University College undergraduate students. 'Ghosts' is a powerful social saga interwoven with comic irony that ends in shocking revelations, giving brutal insight into a dysfunctional family. [+] Read more

Having emerged from her native Norway with the acclaimed 'Little Things' album in 2005, Hanne Hukkelberg returns to the UK for a concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Soutbank Centre. Her sounds are awash with inventive flourishes, with rhythm tracks constructed from the clacking of typewriters, kitchen utensils, a cat purring or the spinning of a bicycle wheel. [+] Read more

Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, the UK’s largest music school, continues to mark the official Grieg year in June with a great gala concert on Norwegian composer's actual birthday. Chetham’s ‘The Spirit of Norway’ festival celebrates Norway’s rich culture and the music of Grieg marking his centenary year. 
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From the record 1,870 entries received for the prestigious BP Portrait Award, Ingolv Helland is one of only 60 artists chosen to take part in an exhibition showcasing the best works that were entered. The Portrait Award, now in its 28th year, is a highly successful annual event aimed at encouraging artists to focus upon, and develop, the theme of painted portraiture within their work. [+] Read more

The Turning World seasons of international dance at The Place, London, is back again and this time includes Norway’s acclaimed Zero Visibility Corp. The nature of identity and attraction weave around an enigmatic central figure in Ina Christel Johannessen’s latest piece for her company Zero Visibility Corp. 
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Norwegian violinist Liv-Marie Fletcher will perform at a concert to celebrate the centenary years of composers Elgar and Grieg, which will include violin sonatas by both Elgar and Grieg as well as Delius. Fletcher is currently pursuing her post-graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music and frequently performs recitals and concertos at venues across the UK. [+] Read more

Norwegian author Helene Uri's second novel 'Honey Tongues', translated by Kari Dickson, is now out in the UK. It tells the story of four friends in their thirties who have known each other since school. They make up a ‘sewing circle’ where no sewing is done, but much exquisite food is lovingly prepared and consumed and increasingly bitchy gossip exchanged. [+] Read more

Friday 1 June sees contemporary Japanese works performed in Wigmore Hall by the composer and pianist Motoki Hirai, and works by Bach, Beethoven, Bloch and Grieg by leading Japanese violinist Katsuya Matsubara along with Hirai.
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The Royal Norwegian Consulate General, in collaboration with the Centre for Timber Engineering at Napier University, is hosting a one day seminar in the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. The event focuses on the competition-winning timber designs currently under construction in Stavanger as part of its European Capital of Culture programme. [+] Read more

 In connection with the seminar 'Houses in Wood: The Modern Norwegian Model', an exhibition by architect Wenche Selmer will take place in Edinburgh. In over 100 projects spanning a period of 44 years, her work demonstrated a clear sense of continuity whilst also reflecting different periods of Norwegian architecture.
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The Royal Norwegian Embassy produces a monthly online newsletter which lists new and exciting events involving Norwegian artists and professionals. This year, one lucky newsletter subscriber and a friend will be sent to Norway for a stylish weekend break in Oslo. Find out how you could be heading north...
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